Web-lapping machine



Jan. 20, 1970 E. D. NYSTRAND WEB-LAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. '7, 1967 NIH IJTIII INVEN'vfOR.' ERNST DANIEL NYSTRAND Jan. 20v,1970 E. D. NYSTRAND WEB-LAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. '7,1967 INVENTOR- ERNST DANIEL NYfSTRAND H Ys m20, w70 EQNYSTRAND v3,490,762

WEB-LAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. '7, -1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG? 54 FIG.6

INVENTOR! ERNST DANIEL NYSTRAND Jan. 20, 1970 .f E Q NYSTRAND 3,490,762

WEB-LAPPING MACHINE Filed sept. 7, 1967 4 sheets-sheet 4 FIG. 8

6| l E f lo u lf-- '0 59 rrr/ I? IINVENTOR: ERNST DANIEL NYSTRAND3,490,762 WEB-LAPING MACHINE Ernst Daniel Nystrand, Green Bay, Wis.,asslgnor to Paper Converting Machine Company, Inc., Green Bay, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.644,375, June 7, 1967. This application Sept. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 666,178

Int. Cl. B65h 29/66, 45/101 U.S. Cl. 270--59 3 Claims AIISTRACT F THEDISCLOSURE A web-processing machine wherein leading edge portions oftransversely severed webs are sequentially transferred from a fasterroll to a slower roll t0 achieve a lapping or shingling effect.

This invention is an improvement on the apparatus seen in Nystrand andSpencer application, Ser. No. 438,560, filed Mar. 10, 1965, now PatentNo. 3,338,575; it further constitutes a continuation-impart of myco-pending application Ser. No. 644,375, led June 7, 1967.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention nds utility in the production ofpaper products such a-s towels where the overlapped web segments arethereafter zigzag-folded for sequential dispensing. The patent caseincidentally discloses the invention claimed here but is directed tonovel folding apparatus. The earlier joint case has to do with adifferent version of web-lapping and employed novel vacuum means forhandling the trailing portion of a transferred web. This vacuum meanswas interposed between the conventionally-employed bedroll and retardroll. The instant invention departs from the previously-employedprocedure in utilizing novel recess means for handling a portion of theweb just rearward of the leading edge and thereby effect a superiorcontrol over the webs being lapped.

The invention is described in conjunction with an illustrativeembodiment, in which- FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view,partially in section, of a machine which is employed for the formationof zigzag-folded toweling and which incorporates the teachings of thisinvention;

FIGS. 2-5 (on the second drawing sheet) are enlarged fragmentaryelevational views, partially in section, of the bedroll and retard rollin different orientations so as to show the development of the web-lap;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section of thebedroll and retard roll as equipped with vacuum manifolds;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary and elevational view of the bed and retard roll;and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary and elevational view, partially in section, ofthe above two rolls with associated supporting framework and means forvarying the relative positions of the aforesaid rolls.

In the illustration given and with particular reference to FIG. l, thenumeral 10 designates generally one side frame of the towel-producingmachine. The other frame is designated 11 and can be seen in FIG. 8. Theside frames provide the means for mounting the various rolls which areemployed to process the webbing.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WEB TRAVEL Referring now to the extreme righthandside of FIG. l, the web 12 is seen to pass first over a spreading roll13 which is generally known to the trade as a Mount Hope roll, having acurved surface for elminating nited States Patent O 3,490,762 PatentedJan. 20, 1970 e ICC wrinkles. The frame 10 is equipped with a suitablepedestal and bearing generally designated 14 for the support of the roll13. Proceeding to the left in FIG. 1, the web 12 is next seen to engagedraw rolls 15 and 16 and thereafter is in partial wrapping engagementwith a bedroll generally designated 17. Here the web is caused to adhereto the bedroll by vacuum and is cut by serrated blades as at 18 mountedon a cutoff roll 19. Each blade 18 cuts the web 12 as the blade 18enters a mating groove as at 20 in the bedroll 17.

A pinch roll 21 (as with the rest of the rolls being rotatably carriedby the frame 10) prevents the web (now a segment) from backing up atcutoff and insures cleaner and better cutoff. The next roll in the pathof the web 12 (now in segmental form) is the so-called retard rollgenerally designated 22. As indicated previously, lapping or shinglinghas been carried out through the use of two basic rolls-the bedroll andretard roll with the retard roll traveling at a slower surface speedthan the bedroll.

As the leading edge of the -cut web comes close to the retard roll 22,the vacuum holding the leading edge of the web against the bedroll 17 isvalved off and the corresponding vacuum in the retard roll 22 is valvedon to transfer the leading edge from the surface of the bedroll 17 tothe surface of the retard roll 22. I have found that this transfer isadvantageously achieved when there is a space of approximately 0.025 to0.030 between the rolls when ordinary toweling-grade webbing is beingprocessed.

Once the leading edge of a cut web is transferred to the surface of theretard roll 22, the leading edge slows down while the trailing edgeportion of a web is advancing at the same rate as the web 12 previouslyreferred to. The handling of the slack necessarily developed by thisspeed differential is disclosed in detail in FIGS. 2-5 to whichreference will be had later in this disclosure.

The slower traveling web is confined between the retard roll 22 and amating or cooperating roll 23. By the time the webbing passes betweenthe rolls 22 and 23, the lap or shingle is developed and the amount oflapping is equal to the difference in distance traveled between each cutof the cutoff roll 5. In the illustration given, the rolls 22 and 23travel one-third slower than the bedroll 17. Therefore, the overlap isequal to one-third of the cut sheet length. This method of lapping hasshown a reliability at high speeds above 500 feet per minute.

The remaining processing of the web segment is described in detail in myabove mentioned co-pending application, Ser. No. 644,375, and referencemay be had thereto for further details.

Roll 24 is a slitter bedroll equipped `with hardened anvil sections.Slitters 25 engage these sections to split the web into commercialwidths that can be dispensed from wall cabinets in washrooms. Foldingrolls 26 and 27 employ tuckers and grippers to develop a zigzag-foldingin the fashion described in application Ser. No. 644,375. Ultimately,the segmented, lapped web 12 is conducted away from the apparatus bymeans of a conveyor generaly designated 28.

Alluded to previously, were certain vacuum ports. Referring now to FIG.2, it will be seen that the numeral 29 designates alongitudinally-extending bore in the bedroll 17. As the bedroll rotates,the bore 29 cornes into register with an arcuate manifold 30 (see FIG.6), the manifold 30 being coupled to a means of creating a vacuum as at31. In the illustration given, the bedroll 17 is a three-time roll,i.e., having a circumference accommodatnig three lengths of the websegments used to develop the interfolded towels. Thus, the bore 29 isadapted to urge the leading edge 32 of the web segment 33 against thebedroll. A second longitudinally-extending bore 34 is adapted to urgethe leading edge of a succeeding web segment 35 against the periphery ofthe bedroll 17. The segments 33 and 35 are developed by the action ofthe knife 18 in conjunction with the mating groove 36 (as seen in theupper righthand corner of FIG. 2). A third longitudinally-extending bore37 is provided in the bedroll 17 and each of the bores 29, 24 and 37 isin communication with the surface by means of radialextending bores asat 38 (designated only relative to the longitudinally-extending bore29). Each bore 29, 34 and 37, as the case may be, has its associatedmating groove as at 36 and following the associated passage 38, a recessor ditch as at 39 which is employed to take-up the slack in the towelingas the leading edge is transferred from the bedroll 17 to the retardroll 22.

Also employed in this transfer is a second set of vacuum ports whichcommunicate with the periphery of the bedroll 17 in line with thetrailing end portions of the web segments 33 and 35. For example, thetrailing end portion of the web segment 33 is urged against the bedrollperiphery by virtue of vacuum existing in a longitudinallyextending bore40 which communicates with the surface of the bedroll by means of aradially-extending passage 41. Similar through bores and passages areprovided in association with the other mating grooves 36. It will benoted that the longitudinally-extending bore 40 is spaced radiallyoutward of the longitudinally-extending bores 29, 34 and 37 and thus areserviced by means of a second arcuate manifold as at 42 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION Still referring to the second drawingsheet whichy includes FIGS. 2-5, the web segment 33 in FIG. 2 has justbeen developed by the co-action of the knife blade 18 and the matinggroove 36. The leading edge of the web segment 33 is urged against theperiphery of the bedroll 17 by virtue of the vacuum existing in thelongitudinally-extending bore 29. The trailing edge of the Web segment33 is urged against the periphery of the bedroll 17 by virtue of thevacuum existing in the longitudinallyextending bore 40.

Truning now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the bedroll 17 has rotatedslightly in a counter-clockwise direction so as to bring the matinggroove 36 associated with the through bore 29 into alignment with theline connecting the centers of the bed and retard rolls 17 and 22,respectively. The vacuum, in the illustration given, wherein thethree-time bedroll has a diameter of 9.132" and the top retard roll hasa diameter of 6.088", is completely shut olf in the through bore 29about W16" above the center line of the retard roll 22 and bedroll 17nip. At this point in time, vacuum is removed from the through bore 29and vacuum is applied to a cooperating through bore 43 provided in theretard roll 22. The through bore 43 communicates with the surface of theretard roll 22 by means of a passage 44 and the retard roll hasassociated therewith an arcuate manifold as at 45 (see FIG. 6). Becausevacuum is released from the bore 29 and applied to the bore 43, theleading edge of the web segment 43 is removed from the surface of thebedroll 17 and urged against the surface of the retard roll 22. This isseen schematically in FIG. 3 wherein the distance between the surfacesof the rolls 17 and 22 is exaggerated. As pointed out previously, thisdistance for the handling of toweling is ordinarily 0.025" to about0.030, in effect defining a nip between the rolls.

As the bedroll 17 continues to rotate in a counter-clockwise fashion,slack develops in the web segment 33 by virtue of the fact that theretard roll 22 is moving at a lower surface speed. In the illustrationgiven, the diameters of the retard and bedrolls 22 and 17, respectively,are related by a ratio of 2:3 and rotate at the same angular velocity.Therefore, a surface speed in the retard roll 22 of two-thirds that inthe bedroll 17 is achieved. Since the position of the leading edge ofthe web segment 33 is determined by the position of the through bore 43in retard roll 22, and since the trailing edge of the web segment 33 isdetermined by the position of the through bore 40 in bedroll 17, andsince the latter is moving more rapidly than the former, slacknecessarily develops. This slack, which is designated 46 in FIG. 4, isreceived within the recess or ditch 39.

It will yhe appreciated that a plurality of through bores such as thatdesignated 40 may be provided for each web segment as for example in theposition designated 47 and 48 and thereby serve to urge the web segmentinto tight engagement with the bedroll surface 17 rearward of the ditch39.

Turning now to FIG. 5, the bedroll 17 is seen to be in still a furtherdegree of rotation, i.e., from that seen in FIGS. 4, 3 and Z-in thatorder. In FIG. 4, the ditch 39 was on the line joining the centers ofthe rolls 17 and 22, The ditch 39 in FIG. 5 is seen to have been rotatedapproximately 30 beyond the showing in FIG. 4. By this time, thetrailing edge of the preceding web segment as at 49 (so designated inFIGS. 4 and 5) has been detached completely from the bedroll 17. Forexample, in FIG. 4, the outer through bore 50, which is associated withthe trailing edge of the web segment 49, still has vacuum appliedthereto and causes thereby a distinct loop 51 in the preceding websegment 49. By the time the configuration of FIG. 5 is reached, thethrough bore 50 no longer has vacuum applied thereto (by virtue of nolonger being in register with the arcuate manifold 42) so that thetrailing edge of the preceding web segment 49 now falls by gravity tothe position seen in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, it is seen that the leading edgeportion of the web segment 33 is advancing to a position over, i.e.,above, the trailing portion of preceding web segment 49. Both segments33 and 49 are proceeding at the same rate and thus the desired lappingor shingling is achieved.

In the illustration given, by virtue of having the mating grooves 36provided in the bedroll, there is provided an advantageous crimping ofthe extreme leading edge of each web segment as at 52 relative to thesegment 33 (so designated in FIG. 5 In this fashion, there is nopossibility that the leading edge portion of the segment 33 would bespaced away from the surface of the retard roll 22. If, for example, thecrimping `were the reverse, the upturned leading edge portion may resultin spacing of the web segment from the port developed by the end of thepassage 44 and thus result in inferior holding action of the web segment33 by virtue of the vacuum existing within the through bore 43. Also, itis apparent that the vacuum within the various bores acts directly onthe web segment in question and not through a preceding or following websegment so that precise positioning of the various web segments isachieved. Still further, the arrangement makes advantage use of gravitysince when the vacuum is removed from the through bore 50, the trailing'edge of the preceding web segment 49 drops by gravity from the positionseen in FIG. 4 to that seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the third drawing sheet, to which reference has alreadybeen made insofar as arcuate manifolds are concerned, it is seen that inFIG. 6, the retard roll 22 has associated therewith the arcuate manifold45. The manifold 45 is essentially horseshoe-shaped in end elevation andabuts in sealing relation the end wall 53 of the retard roll 22. Thus,when a given through bore 43 is in the space not covered by the arcuatemanifold 45, there is no vacuum on the particular through bore 43.Further, the extent of arcuate travel in which a given through bore isexposed to vacuum, is regulated by means of end fittings 54 positionablymounted on the manifold 45 by means of hexheaded bolts 55. The foregoingdescription of a manifold is generally known to those skilled in the artand similar manifolds are found, for example, in thepreviously-identified application, Ser. No. 438,560. In like fashion,the manifolds 30 and 42 ride against the end. wall of the bedroll 17 andhave the arcuate extent of vacuum application adjustable by means ofsuitable blocks. In certain instances, I find it advantageous to groovethe vacuum rolls 17 and 22, respectievly, as seen in FIG. 7, and theactual ports 56 and 57 corresponding to the through bores 29 and 43,respetcively, are identified in FIG. 7.

As indicated previously, the control of the spacing between the bedroll17 and the retard roll 22 is important-varying, however, with diierentcalipers of paper.

It is apparent that there has to be some clearance in order toaccommodate the nite thickness of paper which must pass through the nipbetween the two rolls. Further, there should be a slight additionalspacing to insure that there is a transfer actually achieved by virtueof cessation of vacuum in the through bore 29 and application of vacuumin the through bore 43. This is achieved by means of pivotallypositioning the retard roll 22 with relation to the xed position of thebedroll 17. In the illustration given, the retard roll 22 is journaledin a pair of arms 58 `and 59 (see FIG. 8). The arm 59 is seen in sideelevational view in the central upper portion of FIG. 1. Each arm iscoupled to an actuator generally designated 60 which may take the formof a resilient, hollow donut capable of being internally pressurized soas to pivot the associated arm, i.e., 59, about a stub shaft 61 xed inposition on the frame 10. This determines the vertical clearance betweenthe bedroll 17 and the retard roll 22. A second set of actuators, one ofwhich is designated 62 in FIG. 1, is employed for pivoting the retardroll 22 about the pivot 63 so as to regulate the horizontal clearancebetween the bedroll 17 and retard roll 22.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of anembodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose ofillustration, many variations of the details herein given may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. In web-lapping apparatus, a frame, a bedroll mounted for rotation insaid frame, means for rotating said bedroll at a predetermined surfacespeed, a retard roll mounted for rotation in said frame in side-by-siderelation to said bedroll to dene a nip therebetween, means for rotatingsaid retard roll at a surface speed slower than said predeterminedsurface speed, cutoi means op erably associated with said bedroll forproviding web segments to sequentially advance toward said nip, andvacuum port means in each of said rolls arranged and contructed totransfer the leading edge portion of a web segment from said bedroll tosaid retard roll, second vacuum port means in said bedroll rearward ofthe rstmentioned vacuum port means adapted to urge a trailing portion ofsaid web segment against said bedroll when said leading portion istransferred to said retard roll, valve means operably associated withsaid bedroll for sequentially de-actuating the first-mentioned bedrollvacuum port means and said second vacuum port means, and recess means inthe surface of said bedroll between said rst-mentioned bedroll vacuumport means and said second vacuum port means for accommodating the slackin said web segment developed by the leading portion traveling slowerthan the trailing portion thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which a second retard roll is providedbelow the first-mentioned retard roll so that the slack developed insaid web segment is removed from said recess means by gravity.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which means are provided on said framefor adjustably-positioning said retard roll relative to said bedroll fordefining the nip therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,338,575 8/1967 Nystrand et al270-59 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner P. V. WILLIAMS, AssistantExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 270--39, 46

